South Australia Police is making an urgent call for safer road behaviours, after 17 lives have tragically already been lost in 2025. Vulnerable road users have been overrepresented this year, with three motorcyclists, three pedestrians and two cyclists killed on our roads.
Officer in Charge of Traffic Services Branch, Acting Superintendent Jaimi Burns said serious road trauma has been occurring at a concerning rate this year and it is tragic to see the majority of lives lost on the roads have been vulnerable road users.
Superintendent Burns' warning comes as analysis of 2024 fatalities and serious injuries reveals speed and dangerous driving as the major causes of lives lost.
In 2024, 91 lives lost and 847 people were left with serious injuries resulting from road crashes, with the majority of incidents occurring on regional roads.
Distraction, driving dangerously and speeding were the leading causes of last year's 847 serious injury crashes. Additionally. drug driving was a contributing factor in 70 regional serious injury crashes and 129 motorcycle serious injury crashes.
"Serious road trauma often involves one or more of the Fatal Five road behaviours that significantly increase the risk of being involved in a crash. Tragically, this means almost all lives lost and serious injuries could have been prevented through safer road behaviour's" Superintendent Burns said.
"With distraction and speeding playing a major role in so many crashes last year, the critical message to road users across South Australia is clear – these selfish behaviours need to stop."
"We are pleading with people driving on South Australian roads to stay focused and drive to the conditions and speed limit so everyone can arrive safely."
Young drivers aged 16 to 24 and passengers under 16 were also significantly overrepresented in lives lost and serious injury crashes.
In 2024, 11 young drivers lost their lives while 155 young drivers sustained serious injuries. Additionally, three passengers under 16 lost their lives and 16 were seriously injured
"South Australia Police will continue to take strong action to deter and detect unsafe behaviours on our roads, through road safety education and enforcement statewide," said Superintendent Burns.
"It is also essential that people understand that making smart and safe choices while on the road will prevent crashes and save lives."
